Sheep/Goat trip 2016

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I know I haven't been contributing in the past couple years as much as I have in the past so I figured I should rekindle the tradition and post up a few pics/video clips from our recent trip.

BCrams had family commitments this summer so I had the opportunity to try to help a couple other friends get their first Stone's sheep. I opted to pack only a bow this trip but I had no intentions of pulling it out until the main goal of our trip was reached.

We had an awesome time as usual. The weather was almost perfect (maybe even too perfect) and the bugs up high were almost non-existent.

A few pics from our journey...........................

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continued....(heading out the door to scout for deer so I'll continue later today)

[kennyj]

Great photos. Looking forward to more.
kenny

[604redneck]

Can't wait for the rest of the story and pics

[ydouask]

Yes, its still out there ! Thanks for the reboot.

[guest]

Giddy up Brent , as per usual, your taking us along for a good romp in them thar Sheep hills. Looking forward to the rest of the story. :tongue:

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Going to try to keep the details to a minimum....

On the hike in we saw a good number of rams and goats off in the distance (too far to judge them)which kept our hopes high......but the route to them was going to make us cover some ground.

Calvin and I pushed forward and eventually ran out of steam on the eve before opening day. It wasn't quite as close to the target area as we would have liked to have been but it would have to do.

We were out of the fart sacs a bit later than planned but we were pretty damn tired from the previous two days of hiking. Did I mention Calvin is turning 50 this fall....and me next year?? :???:
The plan was to bivy out for a night if need be so we gathered up minimal gear and headed over the mountain. We picked our way up through the crags and were able to find a good glassing spot and almost immediately glassed up a good number of the rams we had seen from a distance. Nothing stood out as a ram to go after (there were a few 'close' rams in the main bunch) until later that day when Calvin spotted a ram off on his own. Out came the spotter and what we saw definitely caught our attention.

The distance was pretty far and the thermals were bad...but eventually the lighting got better and we could tell that he broke the bridge of his nose by a good 12-15":shock:........

[Stone Sheep Steve]

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As the lighting continued to improve we could see that the target ram wasn't your typical Stone ram. He looked mature body-wise but it looked like someone had grabbed his left horn and pulled it waaaaay back so it wasn't anywhere near full curl...and the other side looked like someone had pushed it waaaay forward and into his face. The right horn just skimmed his nose and crossed the center plane of his face and swooped back out to his right side again.....'Mr Twisted' had our attention.
We tried closing the distance but soon discovered the route to be impassible....at least from our current location.
Returning to the glassing spot we sat down to discuss our options. Earlier in the day we also glassed up several hunters on different ridges and mountains....so we decided to stay put and wait for the ram to move to a better location.
We were fortunate to discover a nearby water seep which held some much needed water as the temperature began to climb

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[Stone Sheep Steve]

As nightfall approached Mr Twisted stayed put so we set up a nice bivy camp and got ourselves comfortable.

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And were treated to a beautiful mountain sunset.
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[Stone Sheep Steve]

The next day revealed sheep in new locations but nothing mature so we hiked around a bit to change perspectives and just absorbed our beautiful surroundings.
Eventually we had to return to our tent to re-supply and formulate a new plan.
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[Stone Sheep Steve]

Our plans were put on hold for the next two days as the weather took a turn for the worse. We were a bit disappointed but at our age, bad weather is a good excuse for much needed repeated naps.:redface:

As we crawled out of the tent two days later we were glad to see clear skies again.

This time we planned to bivy out for up to 3 days and even took the stove this time so we didn't have to eat multiple meals of protein bars and jerky in a row.

We returned back to our bivy location and the temps continued to soar through the day.

Without much animal movement there was't much to do but work on the tan during napping sessions....(caution-not pretty)


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Waking up scorched and parched, I uncrossed my eyes and went to reach for my water bottle but I had to quickly freeze as there was a ram bedded at our feet.
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Luckily it was just a 4 yr old ram....
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[Stone Sheep Steve]

As we were perched right on the edge of a nasty set of cliffs, we were continually treated with new goats coming and going. While I would have been happy attempting to take a goat with my bow, I wasn't even going to consider interrupting our hunt that until we got Calvin a ram....even though we saw some dandy billies.

Here's one that really caught our attention. Note the 'clydesdale' neck and shoulders on this thing. Definitely a mature billy.
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[Stone Sheep Steve]

Still seeing hunters on every other ridge made us decide to stay put in our current location and wait for the sheep to move about.

While we did see rams continually moving about, we still had yet to see any that were 'definitely' legal. A couple were close but with the image of Mr Twisted burned into our brains, Calvin wasn't ready to settle quite yet.

Another beautiful sunset from our home on the mountain...

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[Stone Sheep Steve]

On our last last morning we found that another new interesting billy had moved into the cliffs right next to our bivy camp. The other big billy was still there below so we used him as a comparison. While we are no goat experts, we could hardly imagine ever seeing a larger bodied goat in our lifetimes:shock:.
Horn-wise the other billy was probably bigger but this behemoth dwarfed the other billy.

Goatzilla.....

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es7gl6_zux0

We were glad he never left his cliffy sanctuary as we shuddered at the thought of packing him out.:shock:

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Eventually, we ran out of time and never cut a tag but we had another awesome experience in the beautiful mountains of northern BC!

Get out there and enjoy what this amazing province has to offer!

SSS

[monasheemountainman]

great story and beautiful pics!

[LBM]

Eventually, we ran out of time and never cut a tag but we had another awesome experience in the beautiful mountains of northern BC!

Get out there and enjoy what this amazing province has to offer!

SSS
Yes just being there should be what it is all about. Some amazing pictures , the fog and cliff ones are very cool. Did you here any shots well there or ever see the big ram again?

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Yes just being there should be what it is all about. Some amazing pictures , the fog and cliff ones are very cool. Did you here any shots well there or ever see the big ram again?

Heard a couple on the opener but that was it. Never saw that ram again once we returned for the second bivy session.

[604ksmith]

Awesome story and pics. Thanks for posting!

[ThinAir]

Thanks for the story and great pics! Sounds like a successful hunt regardless of how heavy the packs were going out:)

[warnniklz]

...

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Looks like me ice fishing...

[A killer]

Great read and pics!!! Thx sss

[HarryToolips]

Awesome writeup and pics! That looked to be a successful trip for sure, what an experience..

[nature girl]

Nice read and great pictures. Are you going to go back this year and try again. Or give it another try next year?

[Rob]

Awesome story. Taking a goat with the bow would have been sweet.

[Lone Goat Creek]

Beautiful pics! I'm convinced, sheep and goat hunting will take you to some absolutely amazing places.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Nice read and great pictures. Are you going to go back this year and try again. Or give it another try next year?

I'd love to be able to go back one day especially later in the season when there is less pressure and when the goats would have longer hair....but in my industry that is doubtful.


Beautiful pics! I'm convinced, sheep and goat hunting will take you to some absolutely amazing places.

Couldn't agree more!

[kennyj]

Thanks for sharing your adventure. Beautiful photos.
kenny

[Sitkaspruce]

Eventually, we ran out of time and never cut a tag but we had another awesome experience in the beautiful mountains of northern BC!

Get out there and enjoy what this amazing province has to offer!

SSS

No better words could be said Brent!!!!

Thanks for posting and bring us along on your trip!!!

That Billy is a pig!!! Thanks for sharing!!

Cheers

SS

[Mountain Man]

Thanks for sharing Brent, great pics!
Hard to believe there is any room left in those packs for a ram! Fully loaded man!!
Counting the days until I leave, posts like these keep us motivated until holidays kick in.

[Brambles]

Thanks for posting up the hunt Brent, being surrounded by sheep and goats, nice weather with enough water to keep you happy....sounds like a successful trip to me.

[SR80]

Good stuff! Thanks for posting up your story...we need more stories from guys on trips like this!

[Krico]

Great share, thanks.
I'll repeat what the others have said, we need more guys sharing stories and pics. That's the kind of content that had me sign up for this site in the first place.

[Backwoods]

Awesome pictures and storey! I have a very similar hunt I just got home from, I'll have to post pictures and write abit to contribute as well. thanks for the post man!!!

[charlie_horse]

thanks for sharing. awesome pics and story!

[calvin L]

Thanks Brent for writing up a story . I could not have done the trip justice with my words . It was one of the best trips I have been on , with or without a shot fired . I could not have been in a nicer place in BC or with better company . I am sure you all have friends you consider family , Now Stone Sheep Steve , and Big Horn Bob (he was there to )are truly brothers from another mother . I am sure there are more sheep trips coming this year for myself as now I am high country junkie

Calvin L

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Thanks for sharing Brent, great pics!
Hard to believe there is any room left in those packs for a ram! Fully loaded man!!
Counting the days until I leave, posts like these keep us motivated until holidays kick in.

Thanks and good luck on your upcoming hunt, Kory!


Thanks Brent for writing up a story . I could not have done the trip justice with my words . It was one of the best trips I have been on , with or without a shot fired . I could not have been in a nicer place in BC or with better company . I am sure you all have friends you consider family , Now Stone Sheep Steve , and Big Horn Bob (he was there to )are truly brothers from another mother . I am sure there are more sheep trips coming this year for myself as now I am high country junkie

Calvin L

Always a pleasure to share a hunt with you, Brother C!

Im sure most on here will agree that odds of cutting a tag certainly go up by getting to know and returning the same area repeatedly....but there's nothing like visiting new high country to fuel the fever.

SSS

[Whonnock Boy]

Sounds like you had an excellent trip. Hopefully next time you guys can cut a tag. Thanks.

[rocksteady]

Great share, thanks.
I'll repeat what the others have said, we need more guys sharing stories and pics. That's the kind of content that had me sign up for this site in the first place.

unfortunately, when you post a story and pics on HBC the Saints and critics come out of the woodwork to slam people...

thanks for for the read Triple S, only a couple weeks til I get bug eyed crazy over elk..

[Ourea]

Well done SSS.

Threads like this only help to "reboot" HBC and get guys contributing content, quality content, again.

Lot's of novice and young hunters visit this site regularly.
HBC can and should be a place to come for information and entertainment.

Starts with more threads like these.

[604redneck]

Feel free to pm me where that goat is. �� I'm leaving next Sunday so that gives you a week to draw me a map lol

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Feel free to pm me where that goat is. �� I'm leaving next Sunday so that gives you a week to draw me a map lol

Ssssshhhhhhh......region 6. There's a map in the regs but please keep it hush hush.

[604redneck]

Ssssshhhhhhh......region 6. There's a map in the regs but please keep it hush hush.
I'll try to keep it a secret. Lol. For real though awesome pictures looks like it was a great trip

[Rattler]

Great story and even better pictures Brent.

Thanks for posting!

[Timbow]

Thanks for sharing your adventure. Looks like a hell of an adventure and it's nice to read a story that is successful in just getting out there and making memories.

i know what it's like to pack a bow sheep hunting when your partner packs a gun. If I was to do it again I would have just packed the camera.

[180grainer]

Really nice pics. Pretty cool with the rams sleeping. Thanks for posting those.

[calvin L]

I tried to get Brent to shoot a goat , as it was OUR HUNT not mine . He said that the focus was on getting me my first stone sheep . He is a man of his word . I don't think anything could have changed his mind . Well maybe a B/C stone :cool:

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I tried to get Brent to shoot a goat , as it was OUR HUNT not mine . He said that the focus was on getting me my first stone sheep . He is a man of his word . I don't think anything could have changed his mind . Well maybe a B/C stone :cool:

I'm pretty sure either of us shooting that huge bodied goat would have ended out hunt. He had to weigh as much as two Rams.

[Ramshot]

Brent. Bursac scared of the camera? LOL. No pics of him running up the sheep hills? :)

[MB_Boy]

Thanks for sharing Brent! Looks like a great trip for you guys.

[markt308]

enjoyed that! great photos and memories

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Brent. Bursac scared of the camera? LOL. No pics of him running up the sheep hills? :)

Let's just say those bighorns are in trouble.

[srupp]

Great adventure as always Brent...thank you

For some reason many members that harvest rams with bows..or charging grizzlies..the photos, stories never get posted..
Thank you for sharing your guys wonderful adventure..and yes that goat was big....

Cheers
Steven

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Great adventure as always Brent...thank you

For some reason many members that harvest rams with bows..or charging grizzlies..the photos, stories never get posted..
Thank you for sharing your guys wonderful adventure..and yes that goat was big....

Cheers
Steven

Thanks Steven! It always seems a lot easier and less risky to share stories where tags don't get cut. For myself and the guys that I hunt with, it's always more been about the entire experience anyhow. Get out and enjoy the country!

[Mik]

Looks like a great time was had by all, that billy was massive, and I must admit, I'm pretty sure I would have taken it.....or atleast made a stalk on it �� Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Looks like a great time was had by all, that billy was massive, and I must admit, I'm pretty sure I would have taken it.....or atleast made a stalk on it �� Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

I guess I should have called this thread "A 50"er for Calvin's 50th Birthday??"

[calvin L]

OMG it is your birthday 49 th birthday today ! We are the same age until Oct . OLD man . I also have next season to get a 50 " er

[Stone Sheep Steve]

OMG it is your birthday 49 th birthday today ! We are the same age until Oct . OLD man . I also have next season to get a 50 " er

Thanks Bros!
I'm pretty sure that first goat would have gone 49". I guess we missed that window matching sheep horn lengths to our ages. Oh well.

[steepNdeep]

Awesome photos & hunt!! That can't be Cal way up there, can it???

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Awesome photos & hunt!! That can't be Cal way up there, can it???

Haha. I was to give you a hard time about posting a thread where no animals die but since you found this one, I'd better not. Lol

[warnniklz]

I guess I should have called this thread "A 50"er for Calvin's 50th Birthday??"

Shouldn't it be 20th annual 30th birthday?